There were heroes aplenty for Gilas Pilipinas in their emphatic 68‑56 win over Iran on Sunday, and one of them was Dwight Ramos. Then again, that might not even be a surprise, as the stocky guard from California has long been one of the national team’s most dependable mainstays.
Ramos has had his share of superb showings for Gilas, including a 20‑point, 12‑rebound effort against South Sudan in the 2023 FIBA World Cup and a 21‑point outing against Iraq in last year’s FIBA Asia Cup. Still, his big game against Iran at the SM Mall of Asia Arena could be among his most meaningful takeovers, particularly in these FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
Dwight Ramos Delivers… Again
Against Iran, Ramos tied Juan Gomez de Liaño for team‑high honors with 16 points. He added 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 1 block in another all‑around effort. But the numbers don’t tell the whole story.
Ramos was impactful when it mattered most—tying the game at 29 with two free throws, then giving Gilas their first lead at 32‑29 with a corner three off a steal. He capped his night by firing 7 of the team’s last 14 points to spearhead their finishing kick.
That performance left Tim Cone impressed, telling reporters Ramos “played a really awesome game.” Thanks to his effort, Gilas Pilipinas beat Iran for only the second time since 2013 while keeping their FIBA World Cup hopes alive.
Flu‑Like Symptoms No Match for Dwight Ramos
Making Ramos’ performance even more remarkable was the adversity he overcame mere hours before tip‑off. According to Cone, the 27‑year‑old was a game‑time decision after dealing with flu‑like symptoms earlier in the day.
“We weren’t even sure Dwight was going to play today. He woke up with flu symptoms,” Cone explained. “We had to give him a drip to get him ready, because he was just not feeling well at all. He was throwing up a little bit. And so for him to come in and do the job that he did was awesome.”
So yes, Dwight Ramos fought through sickness to be there for flag and country. And yes, he most certainly was awesome.
